Zion National Park, utah
Attractions Guide

Zion National Park is centered around the majestic red rock Zion Canyon, which is surrounded by many incredible natural features. The Virgin River flows through this lush canyon which is filled with abundant wildlife such as elk, deer, and turkeys that you're quite likely to see. The canyon walls are up to 0.5 miles (0.8 km) tall and are very impressive.

Most of the canyon is closed off to cars, but frequent shuttle buses runs quite deep into the canyon and are a great way to take a scenic tour through the park. The shuttle buses also connect to many trailheads making hiking very convenient within the canyon.

During your trip to Zion it's highly recommended to take the shuttle ride through the entire canyon. Be sure to sit in the bus's window seat so that you may admire the stunning beauty of this national park and all its picturesque natural features, including the Sentinel, Court of the Patriarchs, and much more.

Near the entrance to the national park are two great easy hikes, including the 1.8 mile (2.9 km) one-way Pa'rus Trail which takes a pleasant walk along the river. This trail starts from the park's pedestrian entrance and ending at the Canyon Junction shuttle stop.

You might also consider the 3.2 mile (5.1 km) round-trip Watchman Trail which offers spectacular views over part of the Zion Valley, and also starts near the pedestrian entrance to the park (near the main parking lot).

One of the park's most popular easy to moderate hiking trails is to combine the Lower and Upper Emerald Pools with the Kayenta Trail. This hike begins at the The Grotto shuttle stop and ending at the Zion Lodge shuttle stop, with a total hiking distance of about 2.2 miles (3.5 km).

You can also extend this route to a 3.4 mile (5.5 km) hike by walking further along the river on Emerald Pools Trail to the Court of the Patriarchs shuttle stop. The Kayneta Trail is an excellent place to watch the sunset in Zion.

Another must-see is the 2 mile (3.2 km) round-trip Riverside Walk Trail which winds through the canyon beginning from the last shuttle stop. This easy trail begins at the beautiful Temple of Sinawa formation and ends at the trailhead for The Narrows, another popular hike.

The hike through The Narrows is quite strenuous and travels through a gorgeous canyon following the river, often requiring one to tread through waist-deep water. From the Temple of Sinawa you can hike to Orderville Canyon (5 miles/8 km round-trip) or to Big Springs (9 miles/14.5 km round-trip) or even beyond if you like.

Just be sure that there's no chance of flash flooding or even rain when you hike this trail as this can be extremely dangerous.

The most famous challenging hike in Zion is the 4.5 mile (7.2 km) round-trip Angel's Landing Trail, which is very physically demanding with an elevation gain of approximately 1,500 feet (450 m). The trail can be a bit frightening for some people, as you'll be hiking along a narrow ridge with steep cliffs on either side and chains for support.

The panoramic views from the top of Angel's Landing are incredibly breathtaking, as the top of the peak is located high above the center of the canyon. This trail starts and ends at The Grotto shuttle stop via West Rim Trail.

A great alternative or additional challenging hike to Angel's Landing is the 7 mile (11.3 km) round-trip Observation Point Trail. This hike has a massive elevation gain of approximately 2,150 feet (650 m) and offers astounding panoramic views from atop Zion Canyon. The trail starts and ends at the Weeping Rock shuttle stop and is accessible via East Rim Trail.

You might also walk the very short 0.4 mile (0.6 km) round-trip trail here to see the interesting Weeping Rock.

Great Arch & Canyon Overlook Trail

Driving through the canyon heading east you'll encounter a viewpoint for the massive Great Arch before entering a long tunnel. Just after the Great Arch at the end of the tunnel is another amazing hike, the 1 mile (1.6 km) round-trip Canyon Overlook Trail. At the end of this trail you're rewarded with stunning views looking out over part of Zion Canyon from high above. The trail is also a fantastic place to enjoy the sunset from.

Many Pools Trail

Further east along the road is a much lesser-known hike, the beautiful Many Pools Trail. This  2.3 mile (3.7 km) round-trip hike travels alongside many small pools of water that sit within a scenic canyon. Much further east be sure to stop to admire the striking Checkerboard Mesa mountain.

If you're visiting Zion you should definitely enter into the lottery to attempt to win permits that allow you to hike the park's most gorgeous trail, the 7 mile (11.3 km) round-trip Subway Trail, which is located in a different part of the park.

This serene trail passes picturesque staircase waterfalls along the lush Left Fork Creek canyon. The canyon eventually leads to the subway-like river gorge where you'll find incredible bright pools surrounded by colorful rock walls.